HEALTH CARE
Times Staff and Wire Reports
Bayer, Roche to Form Venture: The two drug makers are forming a marketing partnership to help invigorate U.S. sales of some of their nonprescription medicines. The joint venture includes Roche Holding Ltd.’s 2-year-old painkiller, Aleve, whose sales have lagged this year. In all, the partnership will market six drugs with total annual sales of slightly less than $300 million. Bayer will run the venture while retaining sole control of its flagship aspirin line and many of its other core brands.
